British police chiefs are calling for the decriminalization of first-time drug-related offences

A group of police chiefs in the UK are developing a plan to effectively decriminalize the possession of drugs, including cannabis and cocaine. If adopted by the government, use and possession of small quantities of recreational drugs would be treated as a public health issue for first-time offenders, rather than a criminal offense punishable by criminal penalties or other penalties.

The proposals, developed by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, would effectively decriminalize possession of Class A drugs including cocaine and Class B substances such as marijuana. Under the plan, people caught with illegal drugs would be offered the opportunity to participate in drug education or treatment programs instead of being prosecuted.

Police would take no further action against those who agree to complete the program, giving them an opportunity to avoid a criminal record. Those who do not complete the drug program or are subsequently caught with illegal drugs continue to be prosecuted.

Jason Harwin, former NPCC drug lord and former deputy police chief, is working with the College of Policing on the new partial decriminalization strategy.

“We should not criminalize anyone for drug possession,” he said in a statement quoted by The Telegraph. “It should be a diversion to other services to give them an opportunity to change their behavior.”

Fourteen of the UK’s 43 police forces have already passed guidelines similar to what the national police chiefs are proposing to decriminalize drugs. But the plan runs counter to the country’s Conservative Party government, which has put forward proposals to increase penalties for recreational drugs, including cannabis.

In October, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced that she was considering tightening the classification of cannabis under the country’s drug laws over concerns that marijuana is a gateway drug and could lead to serious health problems. Braverman’s review followed calls from law enforcement agencies to reclassify cannabis as a Class A drug, the same category assigned to substances such as heroin, cocaine and ecstasy.

According to a report by The Times, Braverman opposes cannabis decriminalization and says efforts to reform cannabis policy send a “cultural” symbol that marijuana use is acceptable. The Home Secretary is also concerned about evidence that cannabis use can lead to serious physical health problems, including cancer and birth defects, and mental health problems, including psychosis.

The stricter Class A drug classification for cannabis would make penalties for marijuana offenses harsher, including jail terms of up to seven years for possession and penalties of up to life imprisonment for marijuana producers and distributors. An unidentified source close to Braverman told The Times that the Home Secretary believes the tougher penalties are justified because they would serve as a deterrent to cannabis use and trafficking.

“We have to scare people,” she reportedly said.

In July, then Home Secretary Priti Patel announced proposed new sanctions against users of cannabis and other drugs, including confiscation of driver’s licenses and passports, as part of a new three-strike policy on illicit drug use.

“Drugs are a scourge of society. They destroy lives and tear communities apart,” Patel said in a government statement. “Substance abuse endangers life, fuels crime and serious and violent crime, and also leads to the grotesque exploitation of young, vulnerable people.”

Under the proposal, detailed in a white paper prepared by the Home Office, those caught using illegal recreational drugs would face fines and mandatory drug education. They could also be banned from nightclubs and other entertainment venues.

“Drugs ruin lives and devastate communities, which is why the government has committed to addressing both drug supply and demand, as set out in the 10-year drug strategy,” a Home Office spokesman said in a statement to the press. “Our white paper on new, tougher penalties for drug possession includes proposals to address demand and we welcomed views on them. We will publish our response in due course.”

However, advocates of drug policy reform and public health experts oppose the government’s proposed tougher crackdown on drug use. On Sunday, more than 500 public, health and drug organizations published an open letter to the UK government expressing “serious concerns” about the plan, which they said is likely to criminalize young and vulnerable people while also affecting the scarce police resources would divert attention from more serious problems.

Professor David Strain, the chair of the British Medical Association’s Science Committee, said the Government’s plans appear to “double down on a failed model by promoting ever-tougher sanctions that perpetuate the stigma and shame that already act as a barrier to people looking for help. and ultimately deter drug users from accessing the health services they need.”